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Faith couldn't count how many times she had checked her email notifications in the last few days.
The results were the same.
There was no feedback from the companies, none had called for an interview, and she was still unemployed.
For how long would this continue? Now, she was very impatient.
She'd always heard her colleagues discuss how hard it was to secure a good job, but Faith had never thought it would be this tough.
The door was nudged open and Sterling walked inside, he was dressed in a business suit, preparing to leave for the office.
Their gazes met and Faith watched as his eyes scanned through her clothes, which consisted of a knee-length skirt, a sleeved shirt, and matching low heels, her hair had been nearly clipped in a bun.
"Where are you going?" He approached closer.
Faith realized she had not mentioned it to him, she just hadn't thought it was necessary.
"I looked up online, there are still several places that I haven't applied to, I might have some luck if I go there personally." She rubbed her palms together.
"You are searching for a job, but why?" Faith thought that it was laughable that he sounded genuinely curious of the reason she wanted to work.
"Because I need the money?" There were so many things she could add, she still needed to pay the expense for the lawyer she had hired to reclaim her family's house. Her brother's expensive tuition also needed to be paid.
Sure, she currently had enough in her account to cover all these, but if she didn't get a new job sooner, it would all be exhausted and she would have nothing less.
"You should have just told me if you needed anything." Sterling spoke and Faith exhaled aloud.
"I understand your good intention, thanks for that but I can't accept any more help from you!"
Sterling frowned at her words, why did she have to be stubborn? She would have no choice but to accept what he offered her, why did she need to waste both their time?
"I understand that you want to be independent, but if you need a job that badly, why don't you just return to the company?"
Before she could refuse, Sterling quickly added.
"It's not me helping you, you will earn what you work, god knows that no one does your job better than you do, you could resume today itself if you want to!"
Faith bit her lip, his words sounded tempting, just that she couldn't. It wasn't all about the money, self-sufficiency was also what she sought after.
"I really can't work for you! I_it's just__"
"It could be for the time being, until you secure a job. Then, you could leave at any time you want!" Sterling cut her words, his tone was persuasive.
He knew that once again, allowing her to think she held some kind of power would work.
Little would she know that she couldn't get a job because Sterling had made it so. And it hadn't been because he wanted to make her solely dependent on him, he merely despised the thought of her leaving him to work for someone else.
Then, he would get to see lesser and lesser of her.
She would be busy running errands for her new boss.
Sterling hated to even think about it, he'd easily averted the problem by ensuring that no company hires her without his permission.
Every of her second belonged to him, as he'd already promised her.
He would do anything to ensure she remained by his side, be it at the workplace or anywhere else.
Faith met Sterling's stare, if she could work for him only for the time being__
No! She couldn't be contemplating returning to the company!
She shook her head to clear her thoughts, perhaps it was better to accept while he was offering, what if she wasn't able to secure a job throughout the next month, wouldn't it be embarrassing to ask him then?
She opened her mouth, ignoring the inward voice that whispered she might be making a huge mistake.
"Alright, I'll think about it."
Sterling smiled, his eyes flashing with triumph as he placed a hand on her shoulder.
His eyes caught the glimpse of the necklace he'd gifted her through her shirt and his heart was even more pleased.
"I believe it's settled, if you still can't get a job today, then you'll not argue about returning to work as my personal assistant."
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